Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-05-14
Roscoe CopkiisG and the Hcpub-
licanParsy.

filed as soon "a sent in.
woscoe Conkiisg and the Hcpub-
licanParsy.
That letter OF Ex-senator Conkling
to the assembly at Pittsburgh on the
recent occasion of the anniversary OF
General Grants. birthday is regarded
with anything but ccmplacency by
his political associates of former
days. The eloquent New Yorker
who so long led.the massed phalanges
of his party in political strife, and
nearly, if not quite, always to VIC
tory, has quit politics for good and
all. Had he not already burned his
political ships and destroyed all the
bridges by which he might have re-
turped. he never would have written
as he did. 1t is not probable that
anv combination, of circumstances
could ever lead this brilliant man TO
cast in his lot with his whilom po-
iitical opponents. sstiie cannot join
with his own party, rs at present or
ganized and led. That party he re-
cards as dead, and takes no pains to
disguise his opinions in this respect.
The survival OF the fittest among
the political organizations now asking
public confidence might be realized
by the revival of the Republican
party, provided It can discover the
uuesti ons deserving Of attention, take
the right side OF them, and then act
mp to it's convictions.
No other construction can be put
on that sente nee than that he looks
upon the party as deiunct. 1t has no
policy, does not know which side OF
the issues of the day to espouse, and
has not the courage of its convictions
TO decide its policy.
With those who follow with inter-
est the course of current events, and
who can boldly face q disagreeable
fact, there will be no effort to evade
the truth and force OF Mr.. Conkling's
position. The Republican party is
dead, and has been dead for many
years past. 1t has had no principle,
and but one line OF policy-to hold on
to the spoils Of Office at any sacrifice.
That is not an exalted position for a
great party to occupy. There is
nothing patriotic nor inspiring in
such an attitude. The party started
out with principles and with a
clearly defined policy. 1t had
the moral courage to proclaim
its faith and the reasons Oh which
that was based. Right or wrong
these principles were firmly held and
manfull lived up to. There were
giants n the party in those days
who would have faced the devil
rather than compromise a principle
of their political faith. II was their
earnest appeal to principle which
won. 1t was this manful proclama-
ton OF their faith that led on to
victory.
But the fathers have long been
dead. In their places, as Conkling
sees and says, stand lot OF trucking
ofiice-seekers, and ollice-holders, men
who have no faith, but who will range
themselves under either king with
whom the loaves and fishes may
be found. Men like Conkling and
his conferes who remember the glory
of the old days will not stoop to this
time-serving and truckling for office.
They demand higher aim, a nobler
purpose, and finding it not prefer the
seclusion OF private life to associating
with what the shrewd Ex-senator
rightly denominates ga lot Of no.
bodies"
There is this to be said for the no.
bodies--that it would require man
of most astute mind to find prin-
clDlb on WHICH tAlC hCpubiiCdil |
party could found a line OF con-
sistent policy. In the days of its de-
parted glory the so-called principles
OF the "grand old party" would come
by strict Interpretation OF terms
in the category of dependencies at
best. These are by nature ephemeral
and transito;y. Their little day be-
ing done they naturally disappear and
pass TO the Limbo Of things forgot
ten ON earth" Slavery no longer
exists, the Union is held as sacred
in South Carolina as in Mas
sachusetts, tie natural pros
perity OF the country holds its
credit far above par. What is there
of the expediences and ephemeral
policies OF thirty years ago to hold a
party together? Can even Mr..
Conkling tell us how his old party IS
TO be revived? Can be discover the
questions deserving attention, and